System and method for distributing power over a premises network

• US 6,658,108 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1999
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Premisenet Incorporated
• Inventors: Bissell, Stephen R., McCoy, James Kevin, Stell, Larry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swerdlow, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/289,700
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 379/102.04, 379/413, 340/310.01, 340/310-2-3, 307/29, 307/38-40
• US Class Current: 379/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A system and method for distributing power over a premises network is provided. The system comprises a power receiving module operable to be coupled to a premises network located in a user site. A power source module is operable to be coupled to the premises network and a power supply. The power source module is operable to receive electrical power from the power supply and provide electrical power over the premises network such that the power is contained within the premises network.

Claims

1. A system for distributing power over site telephone wiring which is part of a telephone network, the system comprising:

a power receiving module including a direct current sink, the power receiving module operable to be coupled to the site telephone wiring;

a power source module including a direct current source, the power source module operable to be coupled to the site telephone wiring and a power supply; and

the power source module further operable to receive electrical power from the power supply and provide electrical power to the power receiving module over the site telephone wiring without disrupting operation of a central office coupled to the telephone network, wherein the direct current sink matches to the direct current source based on parameters received from the power source module such that the power supplied by the power source module is contained within the site telephone wiring.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the site telephone wiring comprises twisted pair wiring.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source module provides the power over the site telephone wiring as an alternating current signal in an out of band frequency.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source module is operable to provide an off-hook signal to the central office associated with the telephone network before providing power to the power receiving module.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source module is operable to detect an off-hook signal to the central office associated with the telephone network before providing power to the power receiving module.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the power receiving module is coupled to an electronic device, and wherein the power receiving module supplies power to the electronic device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source module is coupled to an electronic device, and wherein the power source module provides power to the electronic device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source module and the power receiving module are operable to communicate over the site telephone wiring.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power storage device coupled to the power receiving module.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the power storage device comprises a battery.

11. A system for distributing power over site telephone wiring which is part of a telephone network, the system comprising:

a plurality of power receiving modules each including a direct current sink, the power receiving modules operable to be coupled to the site telephone wiring;

a power source module including a direct current source, the power source module operable to be coupled to the site telephone wiring and a power supply; and

the power source module operable to receive electrical power from the power supply and provide electrical power to the power receiving modules over the site telephone wiring without disrupting operation of a central office coupled to the telephone network, wherein a sum of the currents sunk by direct current sinks is matched to the current produced by the direct current source based on parameters received from the power source module such that the power supplied by the power source module is contained within the site telephone wiring.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the site telephone wiring comprises twisted pair wiring.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the power source module provides the power over the site telephone wiring as an alternating current signal in an out of band frequency.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the power source module is operable to provide an off-hook signal to the central office associated with the telephone network before providing power to the power receiving module.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the power source module is operable to detect an off-hook signal to the central office associated with the telephone network before providing power to the power receiving module.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the power receiving modules are each coupled to an electronic device, and wherein the power receiving modules supply power to the electronic devices.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the power source module is coupled to an electronic device, and wherein the power source module provides power to the electronic device.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the power source module and the power receiving modules are operable to communicate over the site telephone wiring.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising a power storage device coupled to each of the power receiving modules.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the power storage device comprises a battery.

21. A method for distributing power over site telephone wiring which is part of a telephone network, the method comprising:

receiving electrical power with a power source module from a power supply; and

providing electrical power from the power source module over the site telephone wiring to a power receiving module without disrupting operation of a central office coupled to the telephone network, the electrical power provided by creating a direct current source and a direct current sink, wherein the direct current sink matches with the direct current source based on parameters received by the power source module such that the power supplied by the power source module is contained within the site telephone wiring.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the site telephone wiring comprises twisted pair wiring.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing the electrical power as an alternating current signal in an out of band frequency.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing an off-hook signal to the central office associated with the telephone network before providing power to the power receiving module.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising detecting an off-hook signal to the central office associated with the telephone network before providing power to the power receiving module.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising communicating between the power source module and the power receiving module over the site telephone wiring.